String for musical instruments



Aug. 12, 1941. w. J. PAVEK 2,252,095

swam; FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Aug. 14, 1939 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED STATES FATENT QFFIQE STRING FOR MUSliGAL INSTRUMENTS William J. Pavek, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application August 14, 1939, Serial No. 290,698

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a string for a musical instrument, such as a violin.

Such strings have heretofore largely been made of catgut or silk gut, Such strings have also been covered with wire to weight the same. It has also been proposed to use metal strings used either alone or with wrapping of wire or thread thereon and such strings have been widely used in recent years. Such metal strings are objectionable as being quite springy. This springing tendency aifects the tone by producing undesirable overtones.

It is an object of this invention to provide a string for a musical instrument comprising a plurality of metal wires of very small cross section, said wires being enclosed and held together in a braided fabric covering.

It is a further object of the invention to pro vide a string for a musical instrument comprising a plurality of steel wires of very small cross section so as to be very flexible and substantially free from springiness, which wires are closely enclosed in a braided fabric covering preferably made of silk thread and the strings so made may receive a lacquer coating to provide a smooth surface.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide such a string comprising a plurality of very small wires enclosed in a fabric covering, which covering may be wrapped with wire, such as silver wire or aluminum wire, with or without a wrapping of silk floss under said wire wrapping.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the various parts of the string;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the string shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation of a modified form of string;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the string shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of another modified form of string; and

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the string shown in Fig. 5.

The string of the present invention comprises a plurality of wires I9 which will be of very small cross sectional area. This cross sectional area will be much less than the cross sectional area of the metal strings now in use. The wires It] will be very flexible and will be substantially free from springiness. Among other materials, these wires may be made or regular music wire or stainless steel. The metal strings now used have considerable springiness. The wires It will preferably have a straight arrangement but these wires may be twisted if desired. The wires I0 are enclosed and held tightly together by a braided covering II which closely surrounds said wires. While various materials might be used for the covering I I, it preferably is made of silk thread. The covering I I may also be provided with a lacquer coating which will give the string a smooth surface. While the coating I2 is preferably made of a good lacquer, the invention also contemplates coatings of the shellac or varnish type. The string shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a finished string and this will be suitable for certain strings on the violin or other instrument.

In Figs. 3 and 4 a string is shown having the wires Ifia similar to the wires I9 already described and a braided cover Ila similar to the braided cover II already described. The cover He; will closely surround and hold together the wires Illa. The cover I la is provided with a wrapping of wire I3 shown as wrapped helically and very closely about the cover IIa. Preferably a wrapping of silk floss I4 underlies the wire wrapping I3 and this wrapping I4 surrounds the braided cover Hit. The silk floss layer I4 may be spun on the cover Ila and this layer smooths the surface of the cover I 2a so that the outer winding of metal Wire can be put on in a better manner. The layer M also builds up the string to a larger di-- ameter and the thickness of said layer may be varied to give different sizes of string. It has also been found that this layer or under wrapping I 4 tends to improve the quality of tone.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a string is shown having the plurality of very small wires I 6 which extend longitudinally of the string and are closely surrounded and held together by the fabric cover Ilia. Wires [6 may extend rectilinearly or may be twisted about each other. A coating of lacquer I'I surrounds the fabric Ilia and gives a smooth coating and cylindrical surface. A wrapping I8 overlies coating H which is preferably of silk thread. An outer covering I9 is provided comprising a wire wrapped helically and closely on the silk wrapping or covering I8. The Wire wrappings I3 and I9 are preferably made of aluminum or silver wire, although wires of other material may be employed.

The strings above described are much more flexible than the present wire strings used and as above stated they do not have the springiness of the present Wire strings, which springiness is objectionable as above mentioned in producing undesirable overtones. The string disclosed herein is also more convenient to handle when not under tension, due to the absence of springiness. The plurality of small wires gives a string of much greater tensile strength than the single wire. The present strings can therefore be tensioned as desired with much less probability of the string breaking. The layer of sill; braid clamps the wires tightly together when the string is tensioned and this cover also opposes the tendency of the string to roll under the bow. The plurality of wires also eliminates the tendency of the one wire string to produce bad overtones. One stiff wire has a tendency to one vibration due to its size and springiness and this conflicts with the desired tone vibration due to its length on the violin. This conflict produces undesirable overtones. The present string with the plurality of Wires overcomes this objection. It will, of course, be understood that more than one layer of the silk braid can be used.

From the above description it will be seen that I have produced a string for a musical instrument having much improved qualities and characteristics. A much more flexible string is produced and one having great tensile strength. The objectionable springiness is avoided and a much improved tone is attained. The string is one easy to manufacture and can be made at a very reasonable cost. The invention has been amply demonstrated in actual practice over a long period and found to be very successful and eflicient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, etails, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants inventicn, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A string for a musical instrument comprising a plru'ality of steel wires of very small cross section so as to be quite flexible and free from springiness, a braided fabric cover directly enclosing said wires and an outer cover on said braided cover.

2. A string for a musical instrument comprising a plurality of steel wires of small cross sectional area so as to be quite flexible and substantially free from springiness extending rectilinearly in said string, a braided fabric cover tightly and directly enclosing said wires and a lacquer coating covering said cover and forming a smooth surface thereon.

3. A string for a musical instrument comprising three steel rectilinearly extending wires of very small cross sectional area so as to be flexible and substantially free from springiness, a braided fabric cover directly enclosing said wires, a Wrapping of thread on said fabric cover and a silver Wire of small diameter wrapped helically around said braided cover.

4. A string for a musical instrument comprising a plurality of steel wires of very small cross sectional area so as to be quite flexible and substantially fr e from springiness, a braided silk cover directly and closely enclosing said wires and a wrapping formed of aluminum wire of small cross sectional area outside of said cover.

5. A string for a musical instrument comprising a plurality of steel wires of very small cross sectional area so as to be quite flexible and substantially free from springiness extending in substantially rectilinear parallel relation, a braided fabric cover directly and closely enclosing said wires, a lacquer covering for said braided cover having a smooth surface and a wrapping of metallic wire surrounding said lacquer coating.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, a wrapped layer of silk being disposed between said lacquer coating and said wrapping of wire.

WILLIAM J PAVEK. 

